SB Nation - Joel Zumaya

Former Tigers Pitcher Joel Zumaya To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

Ian Casselberry — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 17:17:55 -0000

Would he or wouldn't he?

That was the question for former Detroit Tigers reliever Joel Zumaya, now with the Minnesota Twins, after tearing the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow approximately 10 days ago. Would he opt for reconstructive elbow surgery and try yet again to continue his baseball career?

After taking time to think it over and discuss it with his family, Zumaya has indeed decided to have Tommy John surgery and give this pitching thing at least one more try. The procedure will be performed on March 29 by Dr. James Andrews and Zumaya will begin the long recovery and rehabilitation from there.

Zumaya obviously had to think about whether or not to go through that grueling process all over again. But Tommy John surgery will presumably make his arm as healthy as it's been in years and he could come back strong. As ESPN's Buster Olney wrote in his Monday column (insider), that's what Twins general manager Terry Ryan has in mind.

Talked to Minnesota Twins GM Terry Ryan about him the other day, and Ryan said Zumaya was throwing so well that there had been a real sense that he could help Minnesota this year. If Zumaya was that good this time around, there's really no reason to think he can't be throwing well again a year from now -- if healthy.

Presumably, this means Zumaya will return to the Twins if and when he fully recovers from surgery and can pitch again. After all, they'll be paying him ($400,000 guaranteed on an $850,000 incentive-laden contract) through his rehab.

But even if it's in an opposing uniform, it would be nice to see Zumaya take the mound and bring the heat. (His curveball was also a thing of beauty.) Best wishes to him with his latest comeback attempt.

Minnesota Twins Won't Ban Beer In The Clubhouse

Scott Schroeder — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 20:40:06 -0000

The Minnesota Twins had plenty of problems last season and, considering this year's Spring Training started out with a season-ending injury to Joel Zumaya and Justin Morneau contemplating retirement, the upcoming season probably isn't going to be great either.

On the bright side, however, Ron Gardenhire tells Rhett Bollinger that the Twins won't follow the Boston Red Sox lead and ban beer in the clubhouse.

"It's the Boston Red Sox," Gardenhire said. "I don't worry about their policies and they don't worry about ours I'm sure. Every club has their own policies. We have ours. We've been pretty good about things, and if that continues, we'll be fine. And if it doesn't continue, then we'll get pissed off."

Got it, Twins players? Don't piss Gardy off and you can keep drinking your Grain Belt Premiums in the clubhouse.

For more on the Minnesota Twins, check out Twinkie Town. You can also head over to SB Nation's main MLB hub at Baseball Nation.

Scratch One Name Off That Off-Season Wish List

Steve Slowinski — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 15:18:08 -0000

Less than a day after rumors coming out that Jonathan Broxton wanted to play for a team close to his home state of Georgia, Broxton has already made his decision. And he won't be with Tampa Bay next season:

Sources: Broxton to #Royals on 1-year deal, pending physical. (Ken Rosenthal, FOX Sports)

Shucks, oh well. Broxton would have been an exciting arm to get on an incentive laden deal, but it appears the Royals were willing to offer more money than any other team (around $4 million, according to Jon Heyman).

There are still a number of intriguing options out there on the free agent market, so Rays fans shouldn't lose heart. The list of free agent relievers that are still available runs to around 40 names, and the Rays only have one or two holes to fill.

Personally, I'm still waiting to see how much interest Joel Zumaya gets.

Tigers' Prospect Andy Oliver Misses Start Due To Soreness After Playing With Slingshot

Packey — Sat, 07 May 2011 01:10:01 -0000

The Tigers have seen their fair share of bizarre injuries over the years -- Steve Sparks' dislocated shoulder from trying to rip a telephone book in half, Brandon Inge injuring his oblique while moving his kid's pillow, and Joel Zumaya's infamous Guitar Hero injury during the 2006 ALCS -- and here's a new one: Tigers prospect Andy Oliver had his start tonight at Toledo pushed back to Monday due to soreness in his pitching hand after playing with a slingshot [via Jason Beck, H/T Hardball Talk]:

Oliver was messing around with a slingshot during the Mud Hens’ off-day Thursday, and while he didn’t have an accident or anything, his hand was sore today. To hear him describe, he was using some muscles in his hand he doesn’t normally use, and they became sore.

Both Oliver and Hens manager Phil Nevin said he could’ve pitched tonight. But with the ability to push ahead their other starters without forcing them to pitch on short rest, they played it cautious.

Luckily, it doesn't sound like much of an injury at all, but sheesh... he could've poked somebody's eye out with that thing!

Joel Zumaya Looking Good, Feeling Good After First Workout

Packey — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 13:45:30 -0000

Smiles all around. I have a hint of a grin on my face as I type this and I didn't even see him throw, but, having read the quotes and seen the pictures after Joel Zumaya's first throwing session with catcher Victor Martinez, everything seems promising. 2006 Zumaya showed up on Day 1 of 2011 [via Free Press]:

"The ball was just jumping out of his hand," Martinez said. "It was the first time I’ve caught him, and the ball was loud." [...]

After he watched Zumaya throw today, Leyland said: "He was hurt, and he was hurt bad (with a broken elbow last June). Now all of a sudden, he’s feeling really good. He looks great." [...]

"I have such a big smile on my face because my secondary pitches were lights-out today," Zumaya said. "I wish I was actually throwing in a game today.

"When I threw my first breaking ball, I smiled, and Victor smiled back. My change-up is getting better."

Of course, it's just Day 1. We won't update you every day on Zumaya's feelings or what we might be able to expect from him this season based on rosy quotes or pictures, but I think taking his comeback day-by-day is the safest approach with someone who has been a ticking time bomb since 2007.

Zumaya is still only 26 years old and, as Dave Dombrowski says, it's about time he starts seeing some good luck. At dusk of Day 1, Zumaya was looking good and feeling good; here's to it lasting.